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1. s kls/\'r-un0f `& jM. c. INDAHL. UNITS HACK STOP MECHANISM FOR COMPOSING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED f. 17| 19H5. 1 1 93,346. Patented Aug. 1, 1916.

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1. S. BANCROFT & IVI. C. INUAHI.. UNITS HACK STOP MECHANISM FOR COMPOSING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 171 i APatented Aug. 1, 1916.

1. s. BANCROFT & M. c. :Nn/xm` UNITS RACK STOP MECHANISM. FOR COMPGSING MACHINES.

APPLICATKON ELLED EEB. I7. 1916.

' Patented Aug. 1, 19m.

JOHN SELLERS," BANCROFT AND MAURI'IZ c. INDAH'L, or PHILADELPHIA, nENNsYL vANi'A, AssIGrNons To LANSTON MONOTYPE MACHINE COMPANY, or PHILADEL- PHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION or' VIRGINIA.

To all 'e0/wm 'it may concern .f Be it known that we, JOHN SELLERS BAN- onor'i` and MAUnriZ C. INDAH'L, citizens of the United? States, residing at Philadelphia', in the county of Philadelphiaand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Units-RackStop lvtlechanism for ComposingeMachines; and we do hereby 'declare the following to be a full, clear, andl exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication. Our invention relates to composing ma.- chines for typographie purposes and particularly to such machines in which mechanism is provided for measuring the setw-ise dimensions `or widths .of the various types' entering into a line of the composition and giving anindication of the sum of these widths `at all times. l

Some difficulty has been experienced heretofore in providing adequate means for insuring uniformly accurate operation of composing machines equipped with such counting mechanism, especially when a high speed of operation was employed, `a speed for example, such as that developed by the use of the automatic repeat mechanism. Such mechanism., as is well known, causes a repetition of the functions of the machine at a speed' much more rapid than manual operation is able to attain, and suoli rapid repetition often developed difficulties and defects which were not 'apparent in the operation of the machine at the usual speeds. i

It is the object of the present invention to provide an improved composing machine in which the counting Yor measuring mechanisin is so constructed as 'to admit of the continued accurate operation of the machine even at the high speeds produced by automatic repeat mechanisms; to overcome diili'- culties and defects :peculiarly inherent here-vA tofore in such high speed operation' and ,tot produce under all operating conditions al greater degree o-f accuracy .than heretofore with less wear and vtear yand consequently longer life of the (parts.

To the above ends the present invention is concerned with bringing to rest quickly and without rebound the reciprocating elements of the counting mechanism at each end of the strokes thereof. This arresting, or stop Specification of Letters Patent.

UNITS-RACK-STOP' MECHANISM FOR COMPOSING-M'ACHTNES;

Patented Aug. l, i916.

Application filed February 17, 1916. Serial No.v 75,983.

mechanism is designed to cause a dead stop of the reciprocating parts without injury or un- .due wear dueto the momentum of the moving elements and, at the saine time, to produce a 'positioning of the reciprocating parts more accurate than heretofore, guarding against the possibility of skipping units of measurement due to overor under-throw of the parts, or a re'e'ngagement of cooperating elements before the parts can resume their normal position.

The' present invention is applicable to all composing machines equipped with counting mechanism having reciprocating elements and Iis particularly applicable to the Lanston monotype key boards now in extensive use. For illustrative purposes the invention is shown in the accompanying drawings applied to the record strip composing ,machine of a prior Patent, No. 944,405 granted to the present applicants December 28th, 1909, to which patent reference may be had for a detail description and illustration of parts of the machine which it has been deemed unnecessary to illustrate herein for a complete understanding of the present improvements. t

In the accompanying drawings Figure l is a front elevation of a portion of a record strip composing machine, some of the parts being indicated in outline, this view corresponding in general to the view shown in Fig. 9l of the patent hereinbefore mentioned. Fig. 2 is a sectional view substantially on the line 2 2 of Fig. l, looking downwardly. Fig. 3 is a sectionalelevation partly broken away, showing the connections for operating the units `rack carrier and 'locking pawl, this View substantially corresponding to the view shown in Fig. 20 of said patent. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation in a vertical plane, showing thearrange-- ment of vthe stop bars and their carrying Like characters oflreference throughout the several figures indicate the same parts.

In composing machines of the type adopted for illustrating the present invention, the composition is recorded in a strip by perforations formed by punches adapted to be operated in certain relation to each other and in accordance with the manipulations of the keys by the compositor. In order that the lines of composition may be properly justified, it is necessary that the machine be competent to take account of dimension set-wise of the matter composed, and therefore` a counting mechanism is employed which when any key is struck is given a movement in proportion to the number of units in the set-wise dimension of the character represented by that key. In such a counting mechanism there is usually present a movable indicating part and a control part, the latter permitting the former to move through a predetermined number of units representing set-wise measurement. In the machine chosen for illustrative purposes, the movable part is in the form of a toothed wheel which will hereinafter be referred to as a units wheel in accordance with the terminology heretofore employed in the art and the control part is in the form of a rack capable of meshing with the units wheel and moving in gear therewith until the rack comes into contact with a stop bar projected into its path. The units wheel is thus controlled as to its rotation by the rack while the latter is controlled in its forward movement by the stop bars; the latter are present in at least sufficient number so that the number of set-wise units in each key character is represented by one of the stop bars; and each of said stop bars is controlled by its operative connection with the particular keys ,representing characters of the same numi soy ber of set-wise units as are represented by the particular stop bar.

The elements illustrated in the accompanying drawings which correspond with elements in the before mentioned patent will be readily recognized, and for convenience of identification reference characters are employed for indicating them which correspond as well as may be with the reference characters employed in said patent.

Referring particularly to Fig. 3, the universal bar 19 is the element which is moved upwardly whenever any one or more of the punch bars is operated by the depression of a key upon the keyboard; and this universal bar is connected through arm 50, link 51, lever 52, lever 53 (see Fig. l) and link 58 with the units wheel holding pawl 12. The lever 53 is connected through the offset 54 with the units rack carrier 42. The units wheel 7 is connected through its shaft with a pinion which meshes with a line scale rack indicated by dotted lines at 14 in Fig. 1.

When the universal-bar moves upwardly, as previously described, the left end of lever 53 also moves upwardly, the right end being the pivot, until the off-set 54 comes into contact with an adjustable stop 55, in which position the units rack 11, carried by its carrier 42, has its teeth properly in mesh with the teeth of the units wheel 7. Further upward movement of the left end of lever 53 produces downward movement of theright end thereof, the lever being now centrally pivoted at the point of its connection with the offset 54, thus moving the teeth 0f the pawl 12 out of engagement with the teeth of the units wheel 7 in a manner readily understood, this action being against the resistance of the spring 65 and resulting also in such movement of the element 61 pivoted at 59 on the link 58 and carrying a pin or roller 62 extending between the walls of the slot f,

63 in the arm 64 supported upon the pivot 60 of the retaining pawl 12, as will cause the element 61 to move the arm 64 so that its toe 67 will come below the shoulder 57 on the rack carrier 42, thus locking the latter and its rack inmeshed position. The rack being meshed and the pawl being out of mesh, the units wheel 7 is now rotated by suitable and well known motor means which are coupled up with the units wheel so as to tend to rotate it in a counter-clock-wise direction at all times except when the restoring mechanism is brought into action, as when the end of a line of composition has been reached and it is desired to restore the parts to position for beginning the next line. Such counter-clock-wise or forward rotation of the units wheel draws the units rack to the right until it comes against a stop bar 13, projected into its path, whereupon the parts allcome to rest, the units wheel having rotated through a definite number of units as determined and controlled by the particular stop bar employed. The scale rack 14 has also been moved a proper` tional amount owing to its connection with the pinion carried by the shaft of the units wheel. The punch bar which has moved the universal bar 19 upwardly has also moved upwardly the particular stop bar with which it is connected by a lever acting to move downwardly the bar 40 (Fig. 4) which bar acts to move upwardly the stop bar 13 upon the end ofthe lever 41. Each of the stop bars and its operating punch bar is operated by the depression of a key or keys representing characters of a definite set-wise dimension and the stop bars are so located that they cause rotation of the units wheel to cease when it has by its rotation measured in units the proper set-wise dimension of the character struck. Upon the release of the depressed key the universal bar will move downwardly and the left end lof lever 53 will also move downwardly, itsright end moving upwardly to cause the pawl 12 to engage with the units wheel teeth and its center, thereafter moving downwardly to disengage the units rack from the units wheel so that the rack may be returned to its initial position at the left, as by spring pressure.

The return of the units rack is accomplished by a very light return lever pivotally mounted at its upper' end ona fixed support 20 and at its lower end bearing against a suitable shoulder or cooperating surface 21 on the units rack 11. The lever is brought into retracted position by a relatively short spring 22'intermediate the lever and fixed support 23. lVith such a construction an ample range of units rack movement v is provided for, without material variation in the spring resistance to be overcome and without causing excessive momentum during the return of the rack. Moreover, the employment of suchk a lever and spring effectually overcomes the deleterious rythmic vibrations which are set. up when long springs are employed.

At high speed it is essential that when the units rack is arrested at either end ofv its movement rebound shall be practically eliminated, for if any overthrow or rebound occurs at these points there is liability of the rengagement of the rack with the units wheel before the units rack has settled to its proper position and on the forward movement there iS liability of the units wheel being in an incorrect position for the proper rengagement of the retaining pawl 12, with the result that there is an incorrect indication of the number of units of composition in the line. Such defective operation is commonly known as the skipping of units, and in order to overcome this dihiculty we now provide buffer mechanism for arresting` the movement of the units rack at both extreines.

On the return of the units rack 11 to its initial or starting position, it strikes the end of a spring-pressed buffer 211 preferably*` mounted to slide in a bracket 25 secured-to the machine frame, and projecting slightly therefrom, the extent of its projection being determined by a shoulder 26 on its outer end which Contacts with the bracket. It is held advanced by a relatively light spring 27 interposed between its rear end and a suitable fixed lug on the bracket itself, as shown clearly in Fig. 2. The weight of the buffer 24 and the strength of its advancing spring 27 are so proportioned with relation to the wei ght of the units rack and spring for returning the same that, upon delivering its blow on the buffer, the buiier will be driven back and the rack itself will be brought to a dead stop in contact with or in immediate proximity to the front end of the bracket 25 from which the buffer projects, and the downwardly by the pressure of a light spring 29, best seen in Figs. 3 and 5. The boltl 2S is adapted to be elevated by the cooperation of its rearwardly extending arm or projection 30 with the forward end of the lever 52 in proximity to the point where the levers 52 and 53 are jointed together. The projection 30 is made wide enough to permit of the adjustment of the bracket 25 with relation to the machine frame to vary the initialy or retracted position of the units rack. Such adjustment may be effected by theaidjusting screw but it will be understood that the initial or retracted position of the rack maybe varied by other means known in the art. The location of the projection 30 is such that it is engaged and elevated by the lever! 52 in the upward movement of the latter after such upward move ment has ycausedthe meshing of the rack with the units wheel and at' about the time or slightly subsequent to the time of disen- 95 gagement of the pawl 12 from the wheel. Thus the wheel is in movement and the rack has advanced from its initial position before the buffer 24 is released by the-elevation of the bolt or latch 28; accordingly the bufloo fer cannot strike the rack upon the forward stroke of the latter but is nevertheless early in extended position ready for the rearward blow of the rack.

Upon the reverse movement of the parts, the bolt 28 is forced by its spring 29 into Contact with the seat 31 of the buffer 24 at approximately the same time thatthe pawl 12 rengages with the units wheel teeth and slightly prior to the time of disengagement 11o of the rack 11 with the units wheel teeth. l/Vhen now the latter disengagement takes place the buffer 24 isin an advanced position and its bolt 28 is spring pressed against the seat 31 and ready to take position against 11.5 the lower seat 32, which it does automati-y callyv immediately after the rack has impacted against the buffer and driven the latter rearwardly sufficiently to allow the bolt to descend from seat 31 to seat 32. The 12o buffer isthen held retracted until after the rack has started upon its next forward stroke, as previously explained. It is obvious that the b'olt 28 might seat upon the upper 'surface of the buifer in some cases, 125 instead of upon the step 31, when the buffer is in its advanced position, but the form shown is preferred, because of the certainty with which it operates owing to the short` movement of the bolt and the formation of a shoulder in line with the end of the bolt which will prevent rearward overthrow of the buffer and insure the locking movement of the bolt itself. At the high speeds of operation for which the buffer mechanism is especially adapted it is practically important that the movement of the boltv by which it locks the buffer in retracted position should be relatively slight in extent.

The position of the shoulder 82 is such that the buffer is held by the bolt with its operative end extending a short distance beyond the front end or face of the bracket in which it is mounted, and which front end or face in the preferred construction constitutes the xed stop or abutment for determining the initial position of the units rack.

The stop bars 13, one or the other of which is adapted to project intothe path of the units rack for arresting its forward movement 'and determining the number of units of the forward movement of the units wheel, constitute stops for the units rack and units wheel and these stop bars have heretofore been mounted in such wise that their lateral movement is prevented by a fixed stop against which they rest. In accordance with the present invention, however, the said stop bars are held between guides which guides are permitted a limited movement in line with the movement of the unitsv rack but against the resistance of 'a spring pressed plunger which performs the function of an impact buffer. In other words, the stop bars themselves are supported in a direction to resist and absorb -the impact of the units rack. In accomplishing this result the stop bars are mounted between parallel guides 70, 7l, formed as an integral part of a slide 7 2 guided in slideways 7 3 in a bracket 74 fixed on the frame of the machine. The sliding guide 72 is held in its ways at one end by a cover plate 75 and at the opposite end by the overhanging portion of a second fixed bracket 7 6. In the bracket 76 there is formed a chamber 77 for the reception of a plunger or buffer 78 adapted to be advanced by a spring 79. 'Ihe buffer copera-tes with the upwardly extending portion of the sliding guide which forms the guide surface 70 and the exact position of the slide guide is determined by an adjustable stop in the form of a set-screw 80 adapted to be secured in position by a lock nut 81. The end of the adjustable stop 8O bears against the fixed bracket 74 and it will be obvious from the construction described that the movement of the sliding guide 72 and stop bars underthe iniiuence of the buffer 78 will be limited and determined by the said adjustable stop, and, consequently, the position of the stop bars may be accurately set, and at the same time a blow delivered on any one of said stop bars will be absorbed byY the under the impact of the units rack is very slight and in fact the momentum of the units rack and parts moving therewith is practically absorbed by the inertia of the sliding guide 72 and results in the arresting of the units rack practically dead at the point of 'if contact with the projected stop bar, the effect of the momentum of the units rack being transmitted through the sliding guide to the buffer; and the latter alone is caused to retreat, as will be readily understood by those skilled in the art. No special provision is necessary to permit of lateral movement of the stop bars inasmuch as said bars are carried on the ends of levers which are journaled on the cross shaft .and such levers have a sufficient play to permit all of the necessary or desirable lateral movement.

In operation, the depression of a key causes engagement of the units rack with the units wheel, the disengagement of the pawl 12 and the raising of the bolt 28; the wheel advances and with it the rack until the latter strikes an elevated stop bar; the rack also causes movement of the lever 2O about its pivot 20 against the action of the spring 22. The blow of the units rack against the projected stop bar is arrested without rebound, for the reasons heretofore stated. The subsequent release of the key causes lowering of the bolt 28 to its position on the seat 3l, the engagement of the pawl with the units wheel and the release of the units rack from the units wheel. The lever 2O acted upon kby the spring 22 moves the released rack toward its initial position which it attains by striking the buffer 24: and driving it rearwardly and then quietly and without rebound coming to rest against the front end of the bracket containing the buffer. rIhe buffer, driven rearwardly, is held in retracted position by the-slipping of the bolt 28 into position against the shoulder 32 and is released from this position only after the units rack has started its next advance movement.

That -is claimed is l. In a machine of the character described, the combinationk with a units wheel and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with the units wheel and movable longitudinally to control the rotation of the wheel, of means for returning the units rack to its initial position comprising a lever engaging at one end thereof with the rack, and a spring acting upon the lever at a point which is nearer the fulcrum thereof than is the rack'engaging end thereof, and means for arresting the forward and return movements of the rack, said last mentioned means comprisingyielding impact buffers in position for receiving the impact blows of the rack.

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel,`

aunits rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement therewith to control the rotation of the wheel, and means for returning said units rack while out of engagement with the units wheel, to its initial position, of means for arresting both the forward and return movements of the rack substantially without rebound, said last mentioned means comprising yielding impact buffers in position for receiving the impact blows of the rack.

3. In a `machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel, a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement therewith to control the rotation of the wheel, and rearwardly by spring action when out of engagement with the wheel, of buffer means for absorbing the impact blows of said rack substantially without rebound, said means comprising yielding mechanism, the inertia of which is such as substantially to counteract the force of impact of the moving parts upon said mechanism, and a fixed stop with which the rack contacts to determine its initial retracted position.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with the units wheel and movable longitudinally to control the rotation of the wheel, of means for returning the units rack to its initial position comprising a lever pivoted at one end and directly engaging at the other end with a shoulder upon the units rack, and a spring operative upon an intermediate portion of the said lever.

5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel and a units rack in engagement with and movable forwardly longitudinally to control the rotation of the wheel, of means for arresting the :forward movement of the rack, said means comprising a group of laterally yielding stop bars, said bars being individually movable into and out of the path of the rack, and ayi-elding impact buffer for supporting the stop bars in opposition to the impact blow of the units rack.

(3. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a units wheel and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly `longitudinally to control the rotation of the wheel, of means for arresting the forward movement of the rack, said means comprising a group of laterally yielding stop bars, said bars being individually movable into and out of the path of the rack, a slidable guide in position to receive the thrust of said stop bars due to impact with the rack, and a yielding impact buffer for supporting the slidable guide in opposition to the impact blow of the units rack.

7. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a units wheel and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly longitudinally to control the ro.- tation of the wheel, of means for arresting the :forward movement of the rack, said means comprising a group of laterally yielding stop bars, said bars being individually movable into and out of the path of the rack, a slidable guide in position to receive the thrust of said stop bars due to impact with the rack, means for adjustably positioning said slidable guide and a yielding impact buffer for supporting the slidable guide in opposition to the impact blow of the units rack.

8. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly longitudinally to control the rotation of the wheel, of means for arresting the forward movement of the rack, said means comprising a group of laterally contacting stop bars, said bars being individually movable into and out of the path of the rack, means for adjustably positioning the stop bars laterally and a spring pressed buffer for supporting the stop bars in opposition to the impact blow of the units rack.

9. In a machine of the character described, the combination with a units wheel, a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement therewith to control the rotation of the wheel, and means for returning said units rack while out of engagement with the units wheel, toits initial position, of means for arresting the return movement of the rack substantially without rebound, said means comprising an impact buffer of suiiicient inertia to absorb the impact blow of the units rack, and a fixed stop with which the rack contacts to determine its initial retracted position.

10. In a machine of the character described, in combination with a units wheel, and a units rack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement therewith to control the rotation of the wheel. and means for returning said units rack while out of engagement with the units wheel to its initial position, of a fixed stop having a surface for determining the initial position of said units rack and means for bringing the rack to rest substantially soV without rebound against said iixed stop, said means comprisingk a yielding buffer normally extending beyond the position determining surface of said stop into the path of the return movement of the rack and adapted to be retracted behind said stop surface by impact with the rack, and means for retaining said buer in its retracted position While the rack is in substantial contact with the position determining surface of said fixed stop. i

11. In a machine of the character described, indcombination with a units wheel, and a unitsrack movable into and out of engagement with said wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement therewith to control the rotation of the `wheel, and means for returning said units rack while out of engagement with the units wheel to its initial position, of a fixed stop having a surface for determining the initial position of said units rack and means for bringing the rack to rest substantially without rebound against said fixed stop, said means comprising a yielding buffer normally extending beyond the position determining surface of said stop into the path of a units rack movable into and out of en-I gagement with said Wheel and movable forwardly by said wheel while in engagement ytherewith to control the rotation of the Wheel, and means for returning said units rack while out of engagement with the units wheel, to its initial position, of means for arresting the return movement of the rack, said means comprising an impact buffer for absorbing the impact blow of the units rack, a spring-pressed latch for securing said buffer in the retracted position into which it is driven by the impact blow and meansr for releasing the latch to allow-it to take yup its extended position prior to the next impact blow.

JOHN SELLERS BANCROFT. MAURITZ C. INDAHL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, D. C. 

